[The option to leave was always open. It would be simple to return this folder, reclaim his notes, and go back to work. He wouldn't have to try to sort out any of this. Not too long ago, that's exactly what Kidou might have done, but Kidou will be damned if he just leaves him again like that. He can do things better this time.
Somehow...
Hours seem to crawl by in the guise of minutes. Once he can't take it anymore, Kidou gently closes the folder, holding it back out to Genda. It gives him an additional topic to jump to that has the benefit of being unrelated to anything painful.
Clearly, the answer is to just keep moving forward. That's what always works. His voice is a bit quieter than usual when he speaks up again, but it's as steady as it always is.]
action
Somehow...
Hours seem to crawl by in the guise of minutes. Once he can't take it anymore, Kidou gently closes the folder, holding it back out to Genda. It gives him an additional topic to jump to that has the benefit of being unrelated to anything painful.
Clearly, the answer is to just keep moving forward. That's what always works. His voice is a bit quieter than usual when he speaks up again, but it's as steady as it always is.]
You've got an interesting power here.